The Imperial Palace of the Central Dynasty was grand and magnificent, exceedingly luxurious. Especially as one walked toward the direction of the Diligent Governance Hall, it became all the more imposing and grand. Every five steps there was a tower, every ten steps a pavilion, splendidly gilded and dazzling.

After walking about several thousand meters, Ling Chen finally saw a majestic and magnificent hall, and the plaque at the entrance of that hall was indeed inscribed with the three large characters "Diligent Governance Hall."

Outside the hall, there stood prominently armored warriors clad in heavy armor, golden in color. Their left hand held a shield, the right hand a sword, dressed in extravagant attire, each guard exuded an exceptionally strong aura.

These individuals all possessed cultivation above the Sky Apex Realm, yet here they served as the Empress's armored warriors.

Continuing forward, Ling Chen saw more ornately dressed court eunuchs and palace maids. Upon entering the hall, a grand aura greeted him.

At the top of the steps, a graceful silhouette exuding a terrifying majesty stood with her back turned to Ling Chen.

"Your Majesty, Ling Yu is brought here."

After taking Ling Chen into the Diligent Governance Hall, the court eunuch immediately stepped back, and at the same time, the palace maids in the hall also began to exit, leaving the hall.

In an instant, only Ling Chen and Empress Yunyao remained in the hall.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

Ling Chen, not a brutish or rude person, bowed slightly toward Empress Yunyao when the hall door closed.

However, upon his bow, Empress Yunyao did not react at all. After he waited a moment, she slowly turned around, and then the sound of footsteps echoed.

Ling Chen lifted his head, and in his sight, Empress Yunyao was still dressed in a golden robe, majestic yet exuding a hint of sensual allure. Yet under her majesty, none dared to entertain any evil thoughts.

No matter how hard Ling Chen tried, he could not see Empress Yunyao's features clearly, as though separated by a veil.

"Ling Yu?"

Empress Yunyao's voice and her beautiful eyes fixed on Ling Chen, seeming to show a hint of interest in her gaze, "Should I call you Ling Yu, or Ling Chen?"

This statement spread like a bolt of lightning striking Ling Chen, making his expression change dramatically, and he quickly looked around at his surroundings.

"Rest assured, within this Diligent Governance Hall, there is only you and me, no third person present."

Empress Yunyao said lightly.

Hearing this, Ling Chen felt much reassured, yet how could he admit his identity, he directly shook his head, "I do not understand what Your Majesty is saying, my name is Ling Yu. Who is Ling Chen? Does he look very much like me?"

Ling Chen was determined to conceal his identity, refusing to admit it. If he does, it would be the crime of deceiving the ruler, and should Empress Yunyao reveal the truth to the Ling Family, not only would his previous efforts be in vain, but he would also find himself in an extremely dangerous situation.

He knew that under the guise of Ling Yu, he had gained enormous advantages within the Ling Family, various top cultivation conditions. Once exposed as Ling Chen, the one who was expelled from the Ling Family — the son of Ling Tianyu, those Ling Family Elders would surely view him differently and might even call for his death.

"Still pretending to be ignorant."

Empress Yunyao sneered, "If you do not honestly confess, I will immediately issue a decree to announce your true identity to the world. By then, those who want you dead will surely number in the thousands."

"I truly do not know what Your Majesty is saying..."

Ling Chen still did not give up, trying to continue concealing.

"Someone come!"

Empress Yunyao did not waste words, she directly called out toward the hall's entrance.

"Wait!"

Ling Chen feared that Empress Yunyao might really act on it, after all, she was the supreme controller of this Central Dynasty. Her word was law, and wanting to kill a minor figure like him was indeed too easy.

"I have no enmity with Your Majesty; why must Your Majesty be at odds with a commoner like me."

Ling Chen's expression turned somewhat uncertain. The fact was the leverage was in her hands, he could only yield. However, on the other hand, Ling Chen secretly sent a message to the Emperor,

"Emperor Master, if you strike, how confident are you in subduing this woman?"

As long as they could subdue this woman, there were many ways to silence her.

"Forget it, not at all."

The Emperor said leisurely.

"What? Is this woman so difficult to deal with?"

Ling Chen was shocked. Though the Emperor's incarnation strength was not considered strong, he had previously defeated the Tang Sect's Third Elder, making him flee in panic. How strong could this Empress Yunyao be when she was so young?

"Boy, don't entertain any crooked ideas. This woman, I cannot handle, nor could you possibly be her match. Moreover, I sense she has no malice; you better not act rashly."

The Emperor advised Ling Chen and then directly disappeared.

After hearing the Emperor's words, Ling Chen also steadied himself. Since hardness was not feasible, there was no choice but to soften.

"No enmity, that is indeed true."

Empress Yunyao did not know what Ling Chen was internally struggling with, nor did she care to know. She merely laughed before continuing, "You forged your identity, infiltrating the Nine Great Families' Ling Family, and not only that, you dared to participate in the Heavenly Sword Tournament, defeated Peerless Sword, and seized the first place of the Heavenly Sword Tournament. Such audacity is incredible. Do you think that with your actions, as the Emperor, I could possibly overlook it?" Empress Yunyao said with a slight smile.

"There are reasons why I did this."

Ling Chen said with a bitter smile and then raised his head,

"How did Your Majesty discover my identity?"

Ling Chen took a deep breath, since there was no hiding it, he might as well stop concealing it. Yet he was curious about how Empress Yunyao discovered his identity.

"Because of the Green Lotus Sword Song."

Empress Yunyao did not play coy with Ling Chen, and directly revealed, "The Green Lotus Sword Song was lost long ago and scattered within the Yi Zhou territory. For centuries, the Tang Sect had been searching for its whereabouts, even going to great lengths to extinguish Qingcheng Palace, only then finding clues to the Sword Immortal Poetry, yet little did they expect, it benefited you."

"You thought that by not using the most obvious techniques of the Green Lotus Sword Song, others would not perceive the true essence of your sword techniques. I read some fragments of the Green Lotus Sword Song a long time ago; I am familiar with some of its techniques, so when you exhibited the techniques within the Green Lotus Sword Song, I recognized them at a glance."

"I see."

Ling Chen shook his head; there was no way around it. He thought that as long as he used the Ascending Green Lotus and Blue Lotus Capture, other Green Lotus Sword Song techniques would not easily be recognized, but he overlooked one point: the external appearance of techniques is not easily recognized, but their essence is, especially by experts like Empress Yunyao at the Saint level, who could recognize them instantly.